Brake warning light mystery

[BrianWood]

Ok, everyone... I've been lurking for a while, but this is my first post... be easy on the new guy!



This afternoon my wife was driving my truck (her Chevy Tahoe is in the shop AGAIN!). As she was leaving a parking lot, she had to break hard to avoid someone whipping around a corner. As she continued and merged on the road, she noticed the brake warning light and ABS warning light was on. She pulled over to the side of the road and checked to make sure parking brake released, etc. About then is when she noticed that the air conditioner had turned off (fan blowing, but button w/ light is off and would not turn on when pressed). She called me and asked what to do. I suggested that she turn the engine off, wait 30 seconds, and turn back on. She did, and everything was back to normal, including the air conditioner. She was only a few miles from home so she drove on home. She reported that everything seemed OK.



When she got home, I checked for burned out bulb, brake fluid resevoir is full, etc. I just got back from driving around the block and truck braked normally. I did a few "panic stops" from about 25 mph and truck behaved normally. ABS worked as expected. No pulling, no difference in "feel" from before.



This has been the best truck I've ever owned, just have over 5000 miles on it. Can anyone explain why the warning lights came on. . and the air stopped working? Can I stop worrying?



Sorry for the long post!

Brian

 

[rbattelle]

I'd stop worrying. Might have been a weird combination of sensor inputs. For example, is your wife one of those people who begins moving the vehicle practically before the starter has even disengaged? If so, she might have hit the brakes hard while the ABS computer was still in its startup diagnostics mode. That could result in some very funky readings.



See if there was a code captured when it happened. Do this by cycling the key from "OFF" to "RUN" 3 times (stopping at "RUN" the 3rd time). Codes will be displayed in the odometer window. Tell us what they are, if any.



I once did a panic stop in my old Ranger and the ABS light illuminated after that and stayed on until the next time I shut down and restarted. Never had any trouble with it at all.



Anyway, welcome to the TDR... fill out your signature so we know what you're driving.



-Ryan

 

[BrianWood]

No code... just displays "donE"



BTW - I filled out my truck profile before I posted but I guess it didn't take... Here's what I have:

2005 2500 QC LB 4x4, auto - all stock

"Big Horn Edition"

 

[nickleinonen]

you can also get the brake warning lamp to turn on if you get lots of wheel spin... if that happens, just tapping the brakes while rolling will clear that one...